Ryot opposing quarry killed in Karur, owner gets arrested

KARUR:  Three persons, including the owner of a private stone quarry, were arrested in Karur district on Sunday for murdering a farmer, who had opposed the functioning of the quarry.  The farmer, R Jaganathan (52), was riding his two-wheeler to Karundayampalayam on Saturday evening when he was hit by a van coming in the opposite direction near K Paramathi. Jaganathan, who hails from Kalipalayam in Kuppam village in Pugalur taluk, died on the spot, police said. 

During inquiry, K Paramathi police said they learned that the owner of a private stone quarry and crusher unit, S Selvakumar (39), had killed Jaganathan using his own vehicle. Based on a complaint from Jaganathan’s wife Revathy (40), police arrested Selvakumar, van driver K Sakthivel (24) from Omalur in Salem and cleaner Ranjith Kumar (44) from Arcot in Ranipet under Section 302 (murder) of IPC.  

It is learnt that Selvakumar’s quarry was closed on September 5 after Jaganathan alleged in the last Grama Sabha meeting that its permit had expired and filed a petition with the minerals department.  Jaganathan, who cultivated sugarcane and corn on his six acres of land, had earlier filed petitions with the collector and minerals department against the quarry as its functioning had reportedly depleted groundwater and produced dust that covered his land. 

‘Permit expired in 2015’

According to Sattavirotha Kal Kuvari Ethirppu Iyakkam State Coordinator N Shanmugam, the quarry’s permit had expired in 2015 and was functioning illegally. “Jaganathan held several protests against the quarry. In 2019, the quarry owner tried to kill him. He was severely injured in the attack but survived,” Shanmugam said.

He alleged that the quarry owner had murdered Jaganathan in revenge after the quarry was closed. “The murder was premeditated. A few others are involved in this case so police should conduct a proper investigation. In addition, the authorities should arrange compensation for his family and provide a government job to one of his family members,” he said.

Karur SP E Sundaravathanam said, “A case of murder has been registered against Selvakumar and two others, and we are investigating the matter.”